Sandbox/AL
Overview
FIRE: Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation
A Focused Initial Rapid Evaluation (FIRE) should be performed to identify patients in need of immediate intervention.
Boxes in the red signify that an urgent management is needed.
Abbreviations:
Identify cardinal findings that increase the pretest probability of life-threatening chest pain ❑ Sudden onset ❑ ❑ ❑ Related physical exertion | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Does the patient have any of the findings that require urgent management? ❑ Tachycardia ❑ Hypotension ❑ Altered mental status ❑ Severe dyspnea ❑ Oliguria ❑ Cold extremities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Initiate resuscitation measures: ❑ Secure airway ❑ Administer oxygen if SatO2 ≤95% ❑ Secure wide bore IV access ❑ Monitor vitals continuously ❑ Immediately order a 12-lead ECG | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ECG findings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Presence of ST elevation | Absence of ST elevation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Does the patient have both of the following: ❑ There is ST elevation in a limited number of leads that fits the anatomic distribution of a coronary artery (examples would include but are not limited to leads 2,3,F, or Leads v1-v4) | ❑ Evidence of LBBB | Does the patient have any of the following: ❑ There is ST elevation in multiple leads that does not follow an anatomic distribution of coronary arteries (ST elevation is diffuse) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STEMI | LBBB | Pericarditis | Angina | Aortic dissection | Pulmonary embolism | Tension pneumothorax | Esophageal rupture | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Look for supportive signs and symptoms: ❑ The pain is described as a heaviness or crushing sensation | Look for supportive signs and symptoms: ❑ The pain is described as a heaviness or crushing sensation | Look for supportive signs and symptoms: ❑ Pleuritic pain | Look for supportive signs and symptoms: ❑ Substernal chest discomfort that starts with a low intensity and slowly increases | Look for supportive signs and symptoms: ❑ Back pain
| Look for supportive signs and symptoms: ❑ Shortness of breath | Look for supportive signs and symptoms: ❑ Sudden shortness of breath | Look for supportive signs and symptoms: ❑ Vomiting | {{{ }}} | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click here for the detailed management | Click here for the detailed management | Click here for the detailed management | Angina | Click here for the detailed management | Click here for the detailed management | Click here for the detailed management | Click here for the detailed management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Complete Diagnostic Approach
A complete diagnostic approach should be carried out after a focused initial rapid evaluation is conducted and following initiation of any urgent intervention.
Abbreviations:
Characterize the chest pain ❑ Onset (sudden or gradual) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Characterize the symptoms Non-specific symptoms
❑ Dyspnea
❑ Not related to exercise ❑ ❑ ❑ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Inquire about past medical history: ❑ Previous episodes of chest pain
❑ Recent medical procedures
❑ Pulmonary disease
❑ Neurological diseases | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Identify possible triggers or risk factors: ❑ ❑ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Examine the patient:
Vitals Cardiovascular examination Abdominal examination Neurological examination | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Does the chest pain has any of the following findings suggestive of cardiac etiology? ❑ ❑ ❑ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
YES | NO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Click here for the cardiac chest pain approach | Click here for the non-cardiac chest pain approach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cardiac Chest Pain
Does the EKG has ST elevation? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
YES | NO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Is the ST elevation specific to an anatomic area ❑ V1-V2 (Septal) ❑ V3-V4 (Anterior) ❑ V5-V6 (Apical) ❑ I, aVL (Lateral) ❑ II, III, aVF (Inferior) | Does the TTE shows valve or aortic abnormalities? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
YES | NO | YES | NO | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consider the following: STEMI
Click here for detailed management | Pericarditis ❑ Diffuse, non-specific ST elevation ❑ PR depression is present ❑ PR elevation in lead aVR is present ❑ ❑ Click here for detailed management | Consider the following: Aortic stenosis
❑ TTE findings of AS
| Unstable angina/NSTEMI ❑ Elevated cardiac enzymes ❑ ❑ Click here for detailed management Stable angina ❑ Normal cardiac enzymes ❑ Pain usually lasts < 10 min ❑ Improved by rest or nitroglycerin Click here for detailed management | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Non-Cardiac Chest Pain
Determine the non-cardiac etiology based on the physical examination and tests findings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pulmonary | Gastrointestinal | Other | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Consider the following: Pulmonary embolism ❑ ❑ ❑ Click here for detailed management | Consider the following: GERD
❑ Alleviated by antacids ❑ ❑ ❑ Click here for detailed management | Consider the following: Musculoskeletal pain ❑ ❑ ❑ Click here for detailed management | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Treatment
Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the therapeutic approach to chest pain based on the
Abbreviations: